The inmates were already in their cells, and the lights were off. The guard used a flashlight to guide their way, and it seemed like in the space of a blink, he was outside his and Sebastian’s cell door.

He was home.

The key clunked in the lock, and the door swung open. Rory couldn’t see anything when he stepped inside. The floodlight shone on his bed, and the corner of Sebastian’s pillow. The door locked behind him, but he didn’t hop onto his bed, he waited.

Sebastian stood up slowly, then came closer.

“Rory?”

That was the moment he allowed himself to cry.

Sebastian rushed forward and pulled him into a hug. Rory shoved his face into his neck, clutched on, and took a deep breath. Sebastian was warm under his hands, his heart was thumping hard in his chest, and Rory could hear him breathing, sighing through his nose. He clutched Sebastian, and Sebastian held him back harder.

“It’s gonna be okay…”

“It’s not.” Rory murmured.

Sebastian brushed his thumb against the nape of Rory’s neck. His eyes drifted shut at the sensation, then they snapped open. He didn’t deserve to feel nice, he didn’t deserve to be comforted. He went from grabbing Sebastian, to pushing him away, but Sebastian didn’t let go.

“Hey,” Sebastian mumbled. “Don’t...”

Rory sunk back against his chest and pressed his face so securely to Sebastian’s neck it hurt his nose. He didn’t care, he cried, and only stopped when he felt wetness on his arms. Realized his tears, and whatever else, had ran down Sebastian’s back.

He scowled. “Sorry…”

“It’s fine.”

Sebastian pulled Rory over to his bed. “Sit down.”

Rory did as he was told and shuffled back until he was against the wall. Sebastian offered him some tissue, and he wiped his eyes and nose.

“Thanks.”

Sebastian sat next to him, then pulled the sheet over their laps.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“That’s okay, we can sit for a bit.”

Rory closed his eyes when he felt Sebastian’s arm snake round his neck and tug him close.

“I’m on my own.”

“No. You’ve got me.”

“Only for a week.”

Sebastian sighed. “Ollie told me you knew the girl in the article.”

Rory bobbed his head. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry you found out like that.”

“I should’ve known. I feel shit that I didn’t know.”

“If no one told you, how could you have possibly known?”

Rory shook his head, then tapped his chest, the place where he had a vast emptiness instead of a heart. “I mean, I should’ve known. I should’ve felt something, knew something was wrong.”

“You don’t have some sixth sense.”

“I guess not.”

Sebastian hissed, then reached for Rory’s hand. “What the hell did you do to yourself?”

“I had an argument with the wall.”

“Who won?”